Agreement provides use of public lot

The town has reached an agreement with downtown developer Merrill Diamond and business partner Nick Sinacori for the use of the town-owned parking lot facing Snow Road.

The parking licensing agreement, expected to be signed May 24, must first be reviewed by Town Counsel Robert Marzelli. It sets the terms of the use of the municipal lot by customers shopping at the new Shops at Ocean’s Gate retail development and outlines who is responsible for maintenance of the lot.

Kathryn Koch

The parking licensing agreement, expected to be signed May 24, must first be reviewed by Town Counsel Robert Marzelli. It sets the terms of the use of the municipal lot by customers shopping at the new Shops at Ocean’s Gate retail development and outlines who is responsible for maintenance of the lot.

Resident Jim Robinson asked why it was important for the agreement to be signed Thursday instead of the next Board of Selectmen meeting June 4, to which Selectman Michael Maresco responded that Diamond and Sinacori need the town to sign off on the agreement for use of the municipal lot by shoppers before they can pursue financing for their project.

“We want to try to see this moving,” Maresco said, adding that demolition of the existing buildings should start next week.

Robinson questioned signing an agreement without full public scrutiny of the terms by town counsel. He also asked why the discussion of the agreement was a late addition to the selectmen’s meeting agenda, as board members voted to add the agenda item Monday night.

Maresco said Marzelli attended the meeting at which the terms of the agreement were discussed and is familiar with the terms, but has to review the latest information the town received from attorneys for Diamond and Sinacori Monday afternoon.

Selectman Katie O’Donnell assured Robinson that the agreement wasn’t thrown together at the last minute, but said she wants Town Planner Paul Halkiotis to also review the agreement.

When Robinson suggested that approval was being rushed for Diamond’s benefit, Selectmen chairman Patti Epstein said the real beneficiary would be the town.

“The fact this benefits him is secondary to that it benefits us,” she said.

Selectmen have also given the go-ahead for a construction trailer to be placed on the former Handy property so that Webster Square developer Brian Curtis can start work on the construction of a new entrance to Snow Road.